Your brain controls everything about you. Since you have a brain and a mind, you have to take care of your mental health, this brain health blog will help you a lot. If I may simply what mental health is all about, it’s about managing the stresses of life. And in this season we’re living in, every single one of us is experiencing more stress than ever. (disclaimer: I am not a licensed mental health professional of any kind, this is just my own personal perspective based on my lived experiences.)
While most of you don’t have an official medical diagnosis of a mental disorder as listed in that DSM-5 Manual, you probably know someone who is struggling to manage their mental health and would require extra effort and attention to care for their psychological health and well-being, . The overall statistics worldwide of those who suffer from mental disorder is around 13% and around 19.1% in the United States.
Allow me to illustrate. 3 persons can be in the same situation but have different reactions. Let’s say it’s ordering at a fast food restaurant. Person #1 would look at the menu, make a decision on the spot, and they’re good to go. Person #2 would look at the menu, have some feelings of anxiety from all the options, and having to make a choice is stressful, but not paralyzing. Person #3 would look at the menu, feel overwhelmed by anxiety and stress, can’t make a decision, and needs to ask for help so s/he doesn’t go hungry. That 3rd person may need extra help to manage the stresses of life if the condition persists.
For Christians and churches, they’re in a unique position, as a community of people, to better care for those who struggle with mental health because the need is huge. There’s not enough resources to provide accessible and affordable care for all those who struggle, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed. (Yes, many go undiagnosed.)